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Community Stories: Soldiers Home & Away

Monday, October 31, 2016

A monumental and far-reaching collaboration among nine New Hampshire libraries and Timberlane Regional High School, Community Stories: Soldiers Home & Away presents its final month of lectures, children’s and family programs, book discussions, and film screenings. The project, which takes its inspiration from Tim O’Brien’s classic Vietnam War novel The Things They Carried, examines the experience of war and the immense challenges faced by troops returning home. Some of the New Hampshire Humanities-funded events in November include:

Can’t Give This War Away: Three Iraqi Summers of Change & Conflict

November 2, 7:00 pm, Hampstead Public LibraryNathan Webster, a Desert Storm veteran, shares his own visual memoir, documenting his time spent with soldiers overseas, the missions and moments they experienced, and the perspectives they gained.

Luis Paints the World: Story & Art

November 4, 4:00 pm, Kelley Library, SalemNovember 9, 6:30 pm, Gale Library, NewtonAuthor Terry Farish shares the story of Luis, whose older brother is being deployed and who expresses his feelings through art. Recommended for Grades 1-5 (please register for these programs with the host library).

War Trauma: A Changing Story

November 12, 6:30 pm, Timberlane Performing Arts Center, PlaistowVA neurologist Dr. James Whitlock and theatre historian and veterans’ advocate Leslie Pasternack examine the impact of combat for service members and their families, and the healing power of storytelling and conversation. The program includes readings from Kate Wenner’s “Make Sure It’s Me,” a play about blast-induced brain injury which has served as a conversation starter for veterans and civilians around New Hampshire since 2012.

Additional November programs include a Vietnam Film Festival; book discussion with author Marina Kirsch about her book, The Flight of Remembrance; a teen book discussion of The Things They Carried; and film screenings of Gardens of Stone and the Iron Triangle.